As Purchase Falls Through, Groveton Paper Plant Eyed for Demolition

A deal to bring the closed Groveton paper mill in the North Country back to life has fallen through raising the possibility it will be demolished. NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

For the North Country there’s been a dream that the old Groveton paper mill would reopen housing some green industry that would provide local jobs.

Last year a businessman from Bath signed a contract to buy it for $2 million, saying he wanted to do just that.

But the deal fell through.

Now the plant is being eyed for another use.

“We’ve had indications of interest from several scrap people that want to tear it down for the metal. Scrap metal is bringing a lot of money today. And, we’re holding off on that as long as we possibly can.”

That’s Jerry Epstein of Perry Videx in New Jersey. Perry Videx is one of the owners.

Epstein says he’d love to see the plant occupied, providing local jobs.

But it is financial drain and he can’t wait forever. He needs a buyer to come forward.

“If that doesn’t happen by I would say mid-March maybe, or April, then we are going to consider the other options of just blowing it down.”

Meanwhile, North Country Council has also been working on plans to save the plant.